2. Fearing possibly a destruction of the data, etc., on hand, in this shape it can at least be preserved, as one copy will be deposited in the archives of the "Historical Society of Southern California," at Los Angeles, California, and one copy in the archives of the "Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society" at Columbus, Ohio; so that, if fortunately any relative should have a sufficiency of that commendable family love and pride to perpetuate the record, he will have a foundation on which to build, by going to those archives.
I am aware that this work must contain errors. Many letters are vague; hand-writing hard to understand; correspondents are often contradictory, and many of their statements are known by me to be erroneous. I have endeavored to verify each report, and have, in many instances, successfully. I will reserve an account of my very interesting experience in digging up family history for the to be published work. There are undoubtedly clerical errors in this work, which I have corrected with ink so far as detected.
THIS WORK OF GATHERING family was begun in April, 1881, and has been continued by me unremittingly ever since, and will be so long as I live. Due acknowledgements will be made in the to-be published work, of all assistance.
(Signed)
BASCOM ASBURY CECIL STEPHENS,
Los Angeles, California, Oct. 25, 1892.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Location of graves in west end of the old Hardin grave yard on N. E. ¼ of Section 29, of Turtle Creek Township, Shelby County, Ohio.
Reading from the left:
1. Sarah (Groome) Stephens No. 11
2. Benjamin Lakin Stephens No. 16
3. Benjamin Lakin Stephens No. 48
4. Ezekiel Groome Stephens No. 43
5. JOSHUA STEPHENS, b. 1833; d. 1823, No. 6 in this book history, page 5-10.
6. ELIZABETH STEPHENS No. 31
7. RACHEL STEPHENS No. 35
ADDITIONAL FACTS OF THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE FAMILY.
A church of Seventh-Day Baptists was established on French Creek, in the Northern part of Chester County, Colony of Pennsylvania, in the year 1722. It became extinct after 1812. The name of Stephens is on the list of Members.—Letter of Charles H. Greene, of Alfred, N. Y., July 11, 1901.